The phenomenon of nuclear
magnetic resonance was demonstrated already in 1946
and has previously resulted in Nobel Prizes in both
Physics and Chemistry. This year's Nobel Laureates in
Physiology or Medicine are rewarded for seminal
discoveries making it possible to visualize different
structures. These findings provided the basis for the
use of magnetic resonance in medical imaging.

A modern MRI unit consists of a
very powerful electromagnet. In addition, there are
magnetic gradients in three different directions.